New details revealed about alleged school shooting planned for State High
A judge ruled Wednesday that Centre County prosecutors presented enough evidence to continue with their case against a man accused of planning a mass shooting at State College Area High School.
Braeden A. Phillips, 20, of Mifflin County and formerly of State College, saw felony charges of conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and terroristic threats move forward.
Centre County Judge Julia Rater rejected a request to have two of the charges dismissed, despite an argument by defense lawyer Matt McClenahen that investigators did not recover any legitimate firearm and that some testimony was contradictory.
“It’s a pretty weak case,” McClenahen told Rater.
Two current State High students, two alumni and a State College police detective testified during the preliminary hearing that was conducted at the Centre County Correctional Facility. The county courthouse was closed because of a power outage caused by Tuesday’s powerful storms.
Owen Smith, 20, testified he first became aware of his friend’s plan in late February when Phillips texted him he wanted to talk about something “very important.” As he revealed some details of the plot, Smith testified Phillips was nervous and pacing around the room.
Phillips then disclosed additional details about the alleged plot to Smith on four other occasions. He spoke of assaults rifles and pistols, going as far as bringing a firearm into Smith’s house.
Smith testified it had a legitimate magazine and was modified so it could become either an automatic or semi-automatic weapon. On another occasion, Smith said Phillips spoke of placing bombs in the school.
Phillips was also alleged to have created a hit list and planned to carry out the shooting April 21, one day after the 26th anniversary of the deadly Columbine High School shooting where two teenage boys killed a dozen classmates and a teacher.
State High alumna Mattie Vickers, 18, testified she learned of the plot April 6. When she asked Phillips if her friend should attend school the day of the shooting, she testified that Phillips told her she should go to “watch it happen.”
State High student Abigail Smith, 18, testified Phillips discussed his plans with her and showed her a photograph of a firearm. A 16-year-old student testified he also heard Phillips discussing the plan.
Phillips, shackled and wearing a gray jail jumpsuit, shook his head during various portions of testimony.
None of the four directly reported the plot to police or attempted to dissuade Phillips. They testified they either told someone else, were fearful of retaliation or didn’t initially take the plan seriously. Vickers concluded her testimony in tears.
Under intense questioning from McClenahen, they sometimes contradicted themselves or each other.
Borough police began investigating April 10. A search of Phillips’ home in Milroy revealed several shotguns and a box of ammunition commonly used with assault rifles, detective Craig Ripka testified.
But investigators never recovered an assault rifle and only found what Ripka described as a replica handgun, not the one Owen Smith described. They also did not recover any bombs, components to make them or instructions on how to put them together.
No manifesto or suicide note was recovered either, Ripka testified.
He spoke with investigators after his arrest in Centre County and denied any involvement in the alleged plot, Ripka testified. Phillips also denied having a hit list, but said he had compiled a “s--- list.”
When police asked earlier this month if Phillips had any issues or past grievances with State High, Owen Smith said Phillips told him the school “did not serve his educational needs and failed him.”
No one else has been charged, including the State High student Phillips is alleged to have conspired with to carry out the shooting. Borough police Chief John Gardner has said his department would notify anyone if they’re believed to be at potential risk.
On the first school day after the alleged plot was made public, State High used metal detectors at each entrance on the school’s campus. It caused significant delays of more than an hour.
Typically home to more than 2,000 students, Ripka testified about half the student body and some teachers didn’t go to school the day the shooting was supposed to have occurred.
Rater denied a request to set Phillips’ bail, saying she believed the testimony presented Wednesday was credible despite some contradictions. She also said she believes Phillips poses a threat.
He is incarcerated at the county jail. It was not immediately clear when his next court appearance is scheduled. Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna urged those with information about the alleged plot to contact State College police.
